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Thanksgiving provides an opportunity to reflect on all that we’re
grateful for, but for some companies, gratitude is not a
once-a-year occasion, but is a value embedded in their company
culture.

Bristol Mountain, a ski resort in upper
New York State, began its “Snow Angel” program last year.
Guests and staff who are witnessed performing an act of
kindness -- such as brushing the snow off their neighbor's car
windshield in the parking lot, helping a new skier up off the
ground, giving up their spot in line or picking up a lost pole
-- are rewarded with a translucent card containing an image of
a Snow Angel as a token of thanks.

“[Both staff and guests] love the idea of getting the card,” says
Drew Broderick, Bristol's director of sales and marketing. “It’s
almost like a medal.”

The snow angel program not only gives reason for guests and staff
to be kind to one another, but is good for business, she says.
“It instils this warm feeling throughout the entire
organization,” says Broderick.

Steve Butcher, CEO of Seattle-based fair-trade ticketing company
Brown Paper Tickets, encourages his
85 employees to give back to the community through “paid time
on.” Each year, employees are given 40 volunteer hours at
normal salary. Last year, more than 250 hours were cashed in.
Butcher says instilling a culture of volunteerism helps
employees become more fulfilled as individuals, and in turn,
perform better.

“They’re better to work with,” he says. “They’re more
cooperative. [They] make better decisions on the job, and they’re
more empathetic to our customers.”

Creating an organizational culture of generosity is healthy for
business, says Patricia Thompson, an Atlanta-based corporate
psychologist and president of Silver Lining Psychology. Here, she offers
the top three reasons to create a culture of generosity in
your business:

1. Enhances mood. “Research shows that engaging
in acts of kindness is associated with greater happiness,” says
Thompson. While being stressed and in a negative mood puts our
bodies into fight-or-flight mode and limits our range of
thoughts, making us less effective as problem solvers, positive
emotions can improve productivity and inspire innovation. “Having
positive emotion broadens your perspective and allows you to be
more creative and curious,” says Thompson.

2. Encourages teamwork. A culture of generosity
encourages employees to work collaboratively. In the case of
Brown Paper Tickets, Butcher says employees often corral others
to participate in their volunteer projects, creating bonding
opportunities that translate into creating a more cooperative
environment in the workplace.

3. Employee retention. Thompson says more and
more the newest generation of employees are looking for more
meaning from their work. A 2010 study by the Pew Research Center
found 21 percent of millenials place a higher priority on helping
people in need while only 15 percent placed priority on having a
high-paying career. “Having opportunities to feel they’re getting
fulfilment through their work and not just a paycheck is
increasingly important,” says Thompson. Fulfilled employees are
more loyal and committed to the company, giving businesses that
embrace a culture of generosity a competitive advantage.